CHAMPCAR/CART: Herta update 97-10-09

Herta Welcomes New Daughter
CART Online (October 9) -- Bryan Herta (Shell Reynard Ford Cosworth)
hasn't had much time for relaxation since the PPG CART World Series season
concluded September 28th at California Speedway. Two days later, ...

Herta Welcomes New Daughter

CART Online (October 9) -- Bryan Herta (Shell Reynard Ford Cosworth)
hasn't had much time for relaxation since the PPG CART World Series season
concluded September 28th at California Speedway. Two days later, Herta
began a three-day test of Team Rahal's new Firestone tires at Portland
International Raceway. Herta was able to evaluate a number of different
tire types in both wet and dry conditions.

"We ran in all types of conditions and we were close to this year's pole
speed," Herta said. "I'm looking forward to working with the Firestone
engineers this winter with our new cars. We're scheduled to get the new
Reynards in mid-November. So we'll have a busy off-season. I like that."
Just three days after the conclusion of the tire test, on Sunday, October
5, Herta and wife Janette welcomed their first child, Calysta Jane, into
the world.

The Hertas' new daughter weighed in at six pounds, 10 ounces and measured
20 inches. She also shares the same birth date with her father's PPG Cup
competitor Michael Andretti who celebrated his
35th birthday on the same day.

"Everyone is doing well and we're very excited," Herta said. Tim Reiter,
chief engineer of the Miller Lite Reynard Ford Cosworth driven by Bobby
Rahal, and his wife, Holly, Team Rahal's former hospitality coordinator,
also became first-time parents last week with the birth of seven-pound,
two-ounce Sophia Louise, born Friday, October 3.